We didn’t know if there would be room on the train for Rick’s guitar, so we’d left it at the hotel. Note to selves: narrow-gauge railway trips are a GREAT place to sing “Freight Train Boogie” and “Riding on the City of New Orleans.”

In Silverton, we wanted to buy a cheap one for Rick to play on the way back. Note to selves: you can’t buy a guitar in Silverton.

Silverton was pretty much about lunch, jewelry and collectibles…

… and imagining what it would be like to live in the same place, but different time…

… or, the same time, but different space.

In some cases, maintaining the illusion requires a LOT of costly upkeep and artistry. (Just ask any of my 50-something friends: we all agree.)

2.5 hours was just about the right interval between residencies on the back platform.

The view heading back was just as spectacular as it had been on the way out, but things had shifted.

Aside from the fabulous light…

… we started seeing more people. And yes, kids still do put pennies on railway ties in the path of oncoming trains.

The train seemed to stop to take on water in more photo-friendly spots…

… and we weren’t the only ones apparently willing to slow things down to take it all in.

The late afternoon sun cut through rock and forest to spotlight objects of its own choosing…

… creating backdrops for the Harry-Potteresque dreams that would follow later that night.

We waved good-bye to those in shadow…

… and in the full late afternoon sunlight, realized anew the value of a wave versus an actual hand-shake.

Wish we’d seen him earlier. We’d have offered to buy his banjo.

It all melted into a lovely, sleepy Colorado summer evening…

… with waves goodnight from the landlubbers (you can always tell landlubbers by their matching gardening footwear) …

… and from those at sea…

… and from a kid with an Inner Adult just waiting for his turn to be able to afford the price of a ticket on a narrow-gauge railway line.

‘Cause, man… if you had the money, who wouldn’t spend some on that?

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* We’ve posted more photos of our fellow passengers, scenery, etc. in a Facebook album. Just copy and paste this url into your browser:  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=10702&id=100000861207094&l=bff1206839. Don’t think it will make you sign in/join/whatever, but let us know if it does, okay? Also, for those with whom we shared the day, let us know (rickandkathyjamison@gmail.com) if you’d like the full resolution versions of any photos in particular: happy to send along.